Seeing a Chiropractor after SCI

[mj23]

Has anyone with sci seen a chiropractor after sci? Any benefits from it? Risks? Etc.

[Patrick Madsen]

I've seen one twice a week for the past 18 years. They wanted to do surgery on both shoulders, elbows and wrists. I went to a Chiro and masseuse to see what could be done to avoid surgery. The shoulders are still shot but I firmly believe the Chiro and massage has helped me immensely. They both wanted to see if they could make a difference so gave me a great price for their work. 18 years later we've become good friends and their generosity and my hard work has kept me off the surgeons table.

I transfer onto the table and they swing my legs up. I always feel more energized and seem to have better posture after an adjustment.

[Lavender lady]

I go about once a month. I am a t11,12 para. Had neck and shoulder issues prior. I also get low back ache. I also get a massage every 2 weeks. I know both have helped me a great deal.

[ouch]

--You Can Seriously Hurt Yourself If You Go to the Wrong Type of Chiropractor--

It depends on what LEVEL YOUR INJURY is at and the TYPE OF CHIROPRACTOR. They all use different techniques. Some use drop tables, physical manipulation or a computer driven tool like the Pulstar. With the Pulstar, the chiropractor runs it down your spine as you are laying on your stomach. The tool taps and receives feedback. It will keep tapping the area if needed. It takes less than 30 seconds for the process of going down your spine. My psychiatrist recommends this type of chiropractor. She treats children and sends them to him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdo9-dqwpLE

If your injury level is higher than the chiropractic manipulation, you risk twisting, stretching, ripping of muscles or ligaments when a drop table or physical manipulation is used. Those type of chiropractic manipulations may be okay for a paraplegic with a low level injury, but detrimental to a quadriplegic.

Massage is also beneficial, especially before going to have a chiropractic adjustment.

[funklab]

I think pat and lavender are right to compare chiropracty (is that the noun?) to massage. There is equivalent medical evidence for both of them... well there might be more positive evidence for massage, but it's pretty close.

[ouch]

I think pat and lavender are right to compare chiropracty (is that the noun?) to massage. There is equivalent medical evidence for both of them... well there might be more positive evidence for massage, but it's pretty close.

Yes, and I would definitely start with massage first before going the chiropractic route.

[garvey]

My orthopedic doctor sent me to a chiro who he knew AND trusted - worked out well for me. He concentrated on core strength, taught me exercise routines and had an excellent masseuse there as well.

[Tman9513]

I went to a chiro clinic for mainly the massages. The few times that the actual chiro wanted to try some adjustments I felt as if they didn't do anything for me. The massages helped though. Like Patrick, I would have them grab my legs and swing them up onto the table after I transferred onto the table.

[Jim]

Seeing the right chiro can be very beneficial, the wrong one, harmful.

[stephen212]

I was attending a pesumably well respected chiropractic college (an oxymoron, really),which placed a great emphasis on understanding scope of practice and when to make referrals to medical professionals, when I became paralyzed from a ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in 1983. I had red flag neurological symptoms leading up to my paralysis, which essentially an entire faculty didn't grasp. While chiropractic adjustments didn't create my malformation, which was determined to be of congenital origin, wailing on my back didn't help matters, either. Chiropractic is a "philosophy" not a science. Some chiropractors (likely a minority) understand the limits of what they can offer and accomplish, the majority are chiropractic evangelical nut cases.

Given a timely referral my AVM would have been operable and I likely would never have discovered let alone become a member of CareCure.

Caveat emptor!

[MineGoesTo11]

Some chiropractors (likely a minority) understand the limits of what they can offer and accomplish, the majority are chiropractic evangelical nut cases.

^^^ This. ^^^ The profession is by and large quackery and has no basis in medical science. There have been a fair number of cases of strokes being caused by dangerous chiropractic manipulations. People are better off getting a massage.

I do understand that some feel better after seeing a chiro but people feel better after getting a massage too.

[mj23]

I've been seeing my chiropractor for about 9-10 months now and have noticed a big difference in how I feel. I feel less stiff and I don't wake up stiff. I would high recommend seeing a chiropractor.

[scimike]

I also would be cautious seeing one. The right massage therapist might be a better option.